Sturgeon / Acipenser fulvescens / A Living Dinosaur

Who needs Jurasic Park when the real
thing lives nearby! Lake Sturgeon have
been around for millions of years and
imagine, right now they are swimming
throughout the northern Great Lakes.

Growing to 300 pounds and nine feet long,
the Lake Sturgeon was once more
common. Prior to the 1850's, commercial
fisherman saw sturgeon as a nuisance as
they tangled and destroyed their fishing
nets. Later a market was developed for
sturgeon and they were nearly fished out
by 1900. Today, regulations are n ow in
place to limit the harvest and assist in
restoration of sturgeon populations.

The Lake Superior Lake Sturgeon Sub-Committee is a group of state, tribal and federal agencies in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ontario working together to restore lake sturgeon in Lake Superior. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bad River Natural Resources Department and Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Commission are conducting projects in the Bad River and on Lake Superior.

Federal, state and tribal hatcheries are rearing sturgeon to restore the fishery and study their behavior. Wisconsin and Minnesota are working together to restore sturgeon to the St. Louis River.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Technological University are collecting eggs from the Sturgeon River, to be stocked in the St. Louis and Ontanogan Rivers. Commercial fisherman are working with fishery management agencies to observe and record data on sturgeon.

Muddy Waters

When topsoil and fertilizer from laws run into the rivers and lakes, it increases sediment and chemical in the water. An over-abundance of either of the two can cause changes in the water quality and destroy vital habitats for spawning fish. This also affects other animals, plants, and humans that use the water.

The clearing of trees along the banks of the rivers and lakes can cause erosion and loss of fish spawning and animal nesting areas. This reduces the water clarity and the amount of habitat available for fish and other species to live in.

Guide & Protector

Lake sturgeon have been used in American Indian ceremonies such as Pow-Wows and funerals. They are also used as food and are usually smoked before being served. For the Ojibwe tribe, sturgeon symbolize strength, depth, and the return of spring and summer. They sturgeon clan believe that they have sturgeon blood in them. The sturgeon is their spiritual guide and protector.

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Comments from Visitors

Thank you so much for visiting, documenting, photographing and sharing our historic markers! This is truly an honor and it is much appreciated. Jim SchuhChippewa County Historical Society

I just discovered your site and have been using it in my fourth grade summer school class in Viroqua, WI. We learned about Wisconsin throughout the year and are spending some time during summer school reading and talking about the history of Viroqua. We plan to take a walking trip to the Pioneer Cemetery and Lucy Stone marker. Thank you for all of your information!Kimberly (Brye) Cade

Hi, I really love your historic marker site a lot, I write a travel blog and I get pictures of these markers to assist in my writing about each town. I went to the Dean House in January for their monthly tour. Here is a link.

Very nice blog post. I certainly love this site. Keep it up!AnonymousThank you for posting this! I am Russ & Grace's grand-daughter & very happy they helped preserve this little slice of Soo Line history for future generations! Awesome website. Thanks for your work!Lillian Ferrall

Thanks for writing about your experiences! This is such a unique and wonderful way to share the history of our wonderful Wisconsin!tessalynn